Are You Ready Physically?
 
What you need to know:
The physical health of the mom and dad before pregnancy affect the health of their future baby. There are specific things you can do to help your baby even before you’re pregnant.

A baby’s organs begin to form in the first four weeks of pregnancy, before many women even know they are pregnant.


What you can do:
  • Take a multivitamin with 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day before pregnancy.
  • Get a pre-pregnancy checkup, including a dental checkup.
  • Eat healthy food, maintain a healthy weight and get fit.
  • Stop smoking and avoid secondhand smoke.
  • Stop drinking alcohol.
  • Don’t use illegal drugs.
  • Avoid infections because some can harm a fetus.
  • Avoid hazardous substances and chemicals.
  • Talk to you health care provider about your family history, genetics and birth defects.
  • Avoid stress.
 
  © 2008 March of Dimes Foundation. All rights reserved. The March of Dimes is a not-for-profit organization recognized as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3). Our mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.